Skier Survives Cold Night on the Slopes

A skier who spent the night in chilling temperatures after getting separated from his friends at the Mountain High ski resort told rescuers early Sunday he was “cold and hungry” but otherwise unharmed, officials said.

Temperatures produced a wind-chill factor of minus 35 degrees overnight as about 20 rescuers searched for Steve Ensminger. He had been reported missing about 5 p.m. Saturday after he failed to meet friends at the resort, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Deputy Dan Cox said.

At daybreak Sunday, three helicopters and another 14 rescuers joined the search in the uppermost northeast corner of the Angeles National Forest near the San Bernardino County line.

Ensminger, in his 20s, was found in Bear Gulch on the undeveloped south side of Mountain High at about 10:45 a.m., Cox said. “He told rescuers that he apparently took a wrong turn and got disoriented and decided to stay where he was,” Cox said.

Ensminger, who had cleared an area to sleep on with a piece of tree bark, was taken back to the resort, Cox said.